China Bans Time-Travel Movies

Yes, you read that correctly. Upset over a booming genre of movies and TV where Chinese citizens travel to a simpler time in the past, the government has put the kibosh on all forms of entertainment that make use of the plot device. “The time-travel drama is becoming a hot theme for TV and films,” said authorities, “but its content and the exaggerated performance style are questionable. Many stories are totally made-up and are made to strain for an effect of novelty. The producers and writers are treating the serious history in a frivolous way, which should by no means be encouraged anymore.” Maybe they just felt really burned out after the fifth season of Lost? [China Hush via Front Row/NYer]